I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and the official from his Department.

Before I call the Minister of State to speak, I welcome Councillor Tom Cronin from Waterford, Peter Reilly, Gerard Reilly, Maurice O'Mahony and Vincent O'Rourke. They are all guests of Senators Curley and Crowe. They are very welcome. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House.

I also welcome St. John Bosco Community College from County Clare, guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley. I hope they enjoy their visit here today. As is customary, there will be no homework for the rest of the day.

The Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, was busy today because not only was the school here on his behalf, but Councillor Cronin and his colleagues were meeting him as well.

In less than four months' time, on 1 July 2026, Ireland will take on the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time. As the Taoiseach has made clear, our EU Presidency will be "a Presidency defined by action". The Government has set out a clear commitment to deliver a successful EU Presidency in 2026. By working with our partners across Europe, we can deliver an effective EU Presidency and ensure that Ireland's position, influence and reputation in the EU are both maintained and enhanced.

Through my role in chairing the interdepartmental group co-ordinating preparations for our Presidency, I can say that good progress has been made across all aspects of our planning work. My official, Mark Hanniffy, is here from the Department. I pay tribute to the Department of foreign affairs and its team because not only is this a job for them, but it is a matter of pride for them to do a good job. That goes for all civil servants and for the Government, too.

Having praised all the work that has been done, it is a fact that we have a lot to do over the coming months to make sure that we can deliver a successful Presidency. Recent events during the current Cypriot EU Presidency have shown us that we must also expect the unexpected as best we can. I was in the airport on Monday morning going to Cyprus when I got a text message saying that the meeting had been cancelled due to drone attacks on British bases on the island of Cyprus. It is extraordinary what can happen.

Bertie Ahern gave me a good example of this as well. In 1990, Ireland had the Presidency and he was Minister for Finance. He said that all through 1989 they did a lot of planning for the Presidency and he said "Then the wall fell" in the way Bertie would say it. What he meant of course was that the Berlin Wall had fallen in November 1989. That totally changed our Presidency. In fact, what happened in 1990 was that plans for the reunification of Germany were approved at the European Council in Dublin. We can expect the unexpected and try to do our best.

It is very important to note that, during the Presidency, it is not Ireland as such that decides what happens. Ireland must act impartially and seek to move the agenda of the member states forward. We need to accommodate the views and perspectives of all member states. Since my appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, I have met counterparts from across EU member states, and EU candidate countries, to discuss Ireland's Presidency. In fact, this morning I met the Polish ambassador and his team. It is clear from my meetings that there are very high expectations across Europe for our Presidency of the European Union. We will work hard to meet those expectations.

Work is progressing across the Government to develop our EU Presidency priorities and policy programme. Overall, our Presidency policy programme will reflect the work that needs to be done to address the common challenges we face across the Union. We believe that a successful EU Presidency is particularly important amidst a complex geopolitical and economic background in Europe. In our Presidency, we want to deliver an ambitious policy programme and move the EU's legislative and policy agenda forward in an effective manner.

Work on the definition of our priorities is focusing on three broad pillars, reflecting the pillars of the strategic agenda: competitiveness, values and security. We expect the agenda of the Council in 2026 to have a strong focus on competitiveness, the strengthening of the Single Market, security and defence, European Union enlargement, and safeguarding our shared values.

Competitiveness is an increasingly critical area of focus for the European Union. Ireland welcomed the productive discussions that took place recently on this topic during the meeting of EU leaders. As we approach our Presidency this year, we have an important opportunity to influence the competitiveness agenda. We will continue to make progress on delivering the full potential of the Single Market, and the simplification agenda. We will continue to support the EU's competitiveness agenda, the proposals from the Draghi and Letta reports, the competitiveness compass, and the Single Market strategy. This is about ensuring jobs and the economic future for all of our people in this country and across the European Union.

Values are a shared European foundation and will always be at the heart of the EU project. A strong society is rooted in strong values. The rules-based international order, on which our collective security and prosperity depend, is increasingly under challenge. The security environment in Europe has been transformed by Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, while the broader international context facing us has never been more challenging. Against this backdrop, we will ensure that the EU strengthens its role as a principled global actor that supports democracy and human rights, multilateralism and the international legal order with the United Nations at its heart.

We are strong advocates for the founding values of the European Union. What is the European Union all about? It is about human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. Ireland will continue to work with partners and institutions alike to address challenges to the rule of law, including democratic backsliding, which is a growing challenge in parts of the European Union.

Few policies embody the values of the EU more than enlargement. Following Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, securing EU membership for individual candidates has re-emerged as the strongest EU foreign policy tool at our disposal to ensure peace and prosperity across our Continent. Ireland was part of the first enlargement of what was then called the European Economic Community in 1973. We have seen at first hand how Ireland has been transformed through our membership of the European Union. I always give this example when I go to schools. One of the conditions of membership of the European Union when we joined was the equal pay directive. We had to ensure there was equal pay between men and women. The younger people listening might be a bit surprised that this was the case. It was not just in Ireland but across many European countries. Who was in charge of driving that agenda when we joined the European Economic Community? It was a Clare man, Patrick Hillery. He was the first Irish Commissioner - the Commissioner for Social Affairs. Not only did he implement what Ireland had to do, but he drove this agenda across Europe. I always say we are the European Union, not somebody in Brussels telling us what to do. In that case, it was a Commissioner from Clare, a former foreign Minister of this country, who was driving this important agenda right across the European Union.

We have been transformed. Economically, we are totally different. Some 1 million people were working in this country in 1973 and there are now about 2.7 million people working. We want to build upon this. We want to facilitate Montenegro's goal of closing all of its negotiating chapters by the end of this year. It is a small country. We also want to see the establishment of what is called the ad hoc committee on the drafting of an accession treaty for Montenegro to progress its membership.

We welcome what Albania is doing to try to reach its interim benchmarks, in particular on the rule of law, to make sure that it has a good rule-of-law system, which is a prerequisite for the closing of negotiations. If some of these benchmarks are reached under the current EU Presidency of Cyprus, Ireland will seek to facilitate the closure of negotiating chapters.

The European Commission considers that all negotiating clusters are ready for opening for Ukraine and Moldova. We hope that this can happen. What is stopping this at the moment is the veto by Hungary. We want to ensure that we can move this forward. We hope that this will happen at the start of our Presidency.

We also want to progress all other EU candidacies where conditions allow. Who knows? Iceland will be having a referendum, which we expect to happen during the summer. It is up to the people, but they may well decide to restart negotiations with the European Union, which they cancelled during our last Presidency for various reasons.

Europe faces a deteriorating international security situation. Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, rising geopolitical tensions and ongoing hybrid attacks across the Continent present a complex and evolving threat environment and new challenges for the European Union.

Our EU Presidency will endeavour to navigate that changing landscape. The prominence of security and defence among our anticipated priorities reflects the priority attached by Ireland and our fellow EU member states to investing in defence capabilities, enhancing resilience and strengthening European security. However, it is important to remember the European Union is not a defence alliance. That is NATO, and while other countries are part of NATO, Ireland is not. European member states are looking for the European Union to give them assistance in how they determine and build up their own defence capacities.

Our solidarity with Ukraine is steadfast. We feel that Ukraine must be supported in its lawful ability and moral case to defend itself against Russia's ongoing illegal aggression, including through the provision of continued military support and engagement in the European Union Military Assistance Mission Ukraine. Maritime security is likely to be one of our security and defence priorities during our Presidency, and I welcome the publication of that strategy. We intend to prioritise the countering of hybrid threats, including preparedness and building up EU resilience and people's resilience to hybrid activities. We will formally set out the policy programme in June 2026. We have also done a consultation process for which we received many submissions. We are not 100% sure but we think we may be the first member state to do a public consultation on our priorities. I have met a wide range of stakeholders from across business, civil society, trade unions, schools and other groups on as many Fridays as I can. Other Ministers have meetings with their own stakeholders and we have had nearly 500 submissions. The Presidency calendar is also being worked on at the moment in terms of the meetings we have. It is also Ireland's first Presidency since Irish was made an official language of the European Union, and that is very significant. We have a policy document on the use of Irish during the Presidency.

I thank the Minister of State for updating the House on the Government's plans for the forthcoming EU Presidency. Obviously, it is a real honour for Ireland to take the Presidency. As the Minister of State said, it will be the eighth time that Ireland will have held the Presidency of the EU Council. I commend all of the staff in the Department, not just here in Dublin but across Europe, who are working to make our Presidency of the Council of the European Union a successful one.

It is occurring at a time of unprecedented international instability and the threats Europe faces are enormous. Our capacity as a European community to respond to them will be tested and proven by our unity of purpose. Fifty-three years ago Ireland joined the then EEC and it is fair to say that, prior to joining, Ireland was a poor, inward-looking country that was losing its people and talent to emigration. Since we joined, we have become an open, outward-looking country and one of the most globalised economies in Europe, with a society that is diverse, accepting and welcoming. These are all strengths. As we look towards the European Presidency, it is important that we recognise that the role is one that gives Ireland an opportunity to demonstrate our confidence, strength and capacity to act as an honest broker, a champion for the rule of law and for diplomacy, to guide the member states over the course of the Presidency, and to make decisions that will affect the lives of European citizens across the Union. It is really important, during our Presidency that the values that unite us as a European community are not just observed but are actually reinforced and championed. The values of freedom and democracy, the rule of law and human rights are all ones that many of us take for granted daily, but all around the world there are people who are deprived of their freedom, who do not enjoy democracy, for all its flaws, and who do not live in an environment that is governed by the rule of law. Ireland's Presidency is another opportunity for Ireland to show its strength, capacity and competence in this space.

I understand from what the Minister of State said that the actual details of the priorities will be worked out in partnership with the other member states over the coming months and will be announced closer to the time of the Presidency. While I appreciate the presidential role means that the Minister of State present and all of our Ministers will have a job to do to chair ministerial meetings and council meetings and to steer the European Union as one in a direction, I would ask that, from an Irish perspective, the Government would continue, as it always does, to use this as an opportunity to raise the issues that smaller countries in the Union are facing and to act as a strong voice, on an equal footing with the larger nations. I am thinking in particular about the issues around digitalisation, energy, climate and industrial competitiveness. These are real pressures for our communities at home. The digital transformation that has occurred in the last 20 or 30 years globally has been transformative. Ireland is headquarters to many of the big operators in the digital space and so progression of a European digital agenda is a priority.

Energy is in the news all the time. We are hearing it and we are all feeling it in our pockets. Energy security and affordability are hugely important, and from an Irish perspective, there is a need for Ireland to achieve greater affordability, resilience and security regarding energy supplies. The climate challenge continues and the only way Europe can effectively deal with it for future generations is to act as one. That will be a big priority for Ireland's Presidency.

In terms of competitiveness, as I said, when Ireland joined the EEC over 50 years ago, we were a very small, inward-looking, economically depressed and socially repressed country, and our world has changed. We are now one of the wealthiest members of the European Union, with one of the most open economies. We are one of the most globalised economies in Europe, and the young people sitting in the Gallery enjoy freedoms that people in Ireland 60 years ago could not have dreamed of, and that is a great opportunity for them. It is a great privilege for all of us to be members of the European Union and to be European citizens. It will be a moment for us all to be proud when Ireland takes the Presidency of the European Union and it is really important that, in that period of time, we stand tall and proud. We are confident that Ireland is an equal leader among all the European states and is a leader that can help steer the European Union to defend the values of democracy, freedom, independence and the rule of law. Never before can it have been as important for the European Union to act as one and to exercise its strength as one.

I welcome the second group from St. John Bosco Community College, County Clare, who are also guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley. I hope you enjoy your visit here today and, as is customary here in the Seanad, you will have no homework for the rest of the week.

I will not take overly long to make my few remarks, which I do on behalf of the Seanad Independent Group. I am delighted to be here to speak on this momentous occasion of the inception of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Minister of State outlined some of the cares and worries that we might have as we go into this.

That should not be hostage to the fact that we should be taking on the job with great pride in our status as a long-established European nation for 53 years since 1973.

At the time that we joined we were also joined by our nearest neighbour, the United Kingdom, part of which is a land neighbour with a border. One of the most regrettable things that has happened in those 50 years is the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union and all the travails and difficulties that generated for us here. Both governments, in fairness to them, particularly our own, set about minimising the disjoin that happened at the time in a magnificent way. It is a great signal of the efficacy of our foreign affairs team, the Government and the junior Ministers at the time that they were diligent and resolute in the way they stuck with it in the most trying circumstances, watching the faux nationalism that exhibited itself across the sea. That gives us great courage in going into this.

The one thing that we can be certain of going into the Presidency is that there will be an awful lot of uncertainties. We need only look at what is going on the Middle East at the moment, something that we did not really foresee happening two weeks ago. We have scuaine mhór long línte amach, a big line of shipping tankers stretched out at the Strait of Hormuz, not able to go anywhere. Behind them is an even longer line of shipping filled with fertiliser trying to get to these islands to enhance the work of farmers at this critical time of year. Both of those products, oil and fertiliser, have implications for the whole question of food security during this summer and later into the winter. None of us can get an accurate picture of prognostication and what might happen in those times. However, we cannot but be fearful because we heard the other day a famous personage say that the British did not have a Winston Churchill in No. 10 Downing Street. By the same token the Americans do not have an FDR in the White House. While those things persist, we are facing some serious challenges.

Is cúis áthais dom a chloisteáil go mbeidh an Ghaeilge in úsáid go forleathan san Uachtaránacht seo. Táim an-bhródúil as sin. Go n-éirí go geal leis an Rialtas san obair sin atá os a chomhair. It is great to see Irish having the status of an official language and I hope that the Government loses no opportunity to promote it for the people here at home, and also to make our European neighbours conscious of the fact that minority languages are not necessarily languages that will die, although the history of Celtic languages tends to suggest that most Celtic languages are ag fáil bháis or dead, for example Manx and Cornish. Hopefully, ours will survive and strengthen as a result of its status in Europe.

I want to talk briefly about maritime security, which will be a big issue during the Presidency. We have a strategic zone around our country which is, by area, similar to the strategic zone that stretches from the state of Maine on the Atlantic coast of the United States down to Florida. That gives an indication of the size of that strategic zone around the country and what is held within it or beneath it. We have considerable difficulties in policing it and guarding it against what we call bad actors. It will be a great opportunity to network and work with our European neighbours to solidify our defences in that regard because there are threats.

We have seen the odious illegal invasion of Ukraine a few years ago. Last night I read in one of the American newspapers that in the four years of war there, the Russian special military operation has succeeded in a net gain of approximately 7,200 sq. km, which might be the size of Laois or something like that, with all due respect to Laois. It is now four years after the invasion and we have seen the resolute defence by the Ukrainians. We have to be conscious of the €90 billion that Europe has spent. That is critical because we can no longer be sure of the American generosity and stalwart support that Europe used to get from the Americans.

Lastly, I go on to the values and what makes us Europeans. Most of us in this Chamber would consider ourselves good Europeans. I like to think that I am. I do not know about all the people in parties and Independents. We all have nuanced views of Europe. The one commonality is that we adhere to and love the whole idea of freedom, and the European values of respect for law, human rights and the dignity of the person. I have no doubt that the Government here in its work over the six months of the Presidency will network furiously and diligently to build up those things. As the Minister of State said, there is some democratic backsliding, which is very worrying. In the meantime, there is an election coming up in Hungary and many people here will be wishing for an optimistic result. However, democracy will prevail, whatever the result, and those are the things the Presidency has to deal with.

Go n-éirí go geal leis an Aire Stáit agus lena chomhghleacaithe sa Rialtas. I wish him every success.

I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and thank him for coming in to speak about the upcoming EU Presidency. I do not think we can start a conversation about the EU Presidency without acknowledging our diplomats across the world and the officials working in the Department of foreign affairs. The work they do on a daily basis is very impressive. It makes us proud to be Irish when we go abroad, as Mary and I did in September, to see the professionalism of our diplomats right across the world. The work they are doing on this, in particular, is very important and it is good to see.

This Presidency will be very different from the last one in 2013. At that time, we were coming out financial crisis and did not have an economy as strong as we have now. Decisions at that time had to be made to keep it as minimal as possible. Most of the meetings then were in Dublin Castle and were important nonetheless. The opportunities we have for this Presidency are much greater than those in 2013. The Minister of State spoke about all of the events that are due to happen. He said extensive work is under way for 270 EU Presidency events across the country over the six months, which is phenomenal. It is really welcome that the Government has decided to branch this out to the wider country. The Minister of State can correct me if I am wrong but I think it is planned to have about 25% of the meetings outside of Dublin. It is wonderful for other parts of the country to have really significant meetings with top people from the European Union. Obviously, that brings challenges from a security point of view for the Garda and the Army, but it is important to be able to show off the whole country and not just Dublin.

As the Minister of State said, we are in a changing world. In his contribution he talked about how we will ensure the EU strengthens its role as a principal global actor which supports democracy, human rights and the international legal order with the UN at its centre. I ask him to expand on the types of things we will be doing.

We will always have issues and priorities, but nothing at the moment is more important than defence and security for all EU countries. In previous days, there have been contributions in the Seanad suggesting that our defence and security coming up to our Presidency are not at the level they need to be.

We need to remind people that there is no EU country that can single-handedly be secure and have enough defence on its own. Member states rely on allies and supports and Ireland is no different. The Minister of State gave the example of what happened in Cyprus last week. When we hold the Presidency we rely, as Cyprus does, on our neighbours and supporters to help us out, whether on land, at sea or through cybersecurity.

We have a wonderful opportunity during our Presidency to learn from our past and our peace process over 28 years. There are so many conflicts happening around the world and so many people who do not see a solution to those conflicts. We were in a position 30 years ago where no one could see a solution to the conflict here and we have now had peace on this island for 28 years. We need to emphasise that when people feel there is no hope, whether that is the Palestine-Israel conflict, the current conflict in the Middle East or the Ukraine-Russia conflict, there is a pathway through good diplomacy to achieve peace. One of our strengths during the Presidency will be to emphasise again the power of soft diplomacy behind the scenes that can work really well.

I know priorities will be announced in June, but another big issue for all European countries is online safety. It is an area we need to prioritise. The Digital Services Act is being implemented but that has limitations and this is a changing issue. It is something we can highlight and work on because it predominantly affects young people.

The Minister of State stated that it is hoped that at the start of our EU Presidency, the negotiating clusters will have opened for some of the applicant countries. This is a brilliant opportunity for Ireland. We are one of the best examples in the European Union of the positive impact that joining the European Union can have on a state. Everyone can see the benefits across the country every day, whether it is driving on good roads or open markets and business. Joining the European Union presents so many opportunities and Ireland can play a key role in trying to speed up the process for those states that want to join, and those that need to join for their own security and benefit.

During our Presidency, negotiations will take place on the Common Agricultural Policy, which is critical for our agriculture and food sector. I am sure the Minister, Deputy Heydon, will be hosting a lot of meetings. I think the agricultural committee will be involved. I heard during the week that there will be an EU agriculture summit of some kind. That is really important. This will be a challenging time given the reduction in the overall budget but we need to make sure our farming community is supported.

In that context, I ask the Minister of State to say a few words on progressing a review, during our Presidency, of the Common Fisheries Policy because that has had a real impact and is a worry for people in Killybegs, Castletownbere and other fishing communities. We must make sure we have a fair quota going forward. Holding the Presidency gives us an opportunity to put pressure on in that regard.

It is an exciting time to have the Presidency starting in July. There is an awful lot of work involved but there is so much we can get back from it. There is a lot of work being put into it and a lot of money being spent on it but the benefits that come back to this country are huge. I commend the Minister of State, his Department and the Government on the work they are doing to try to promote Ireland's best interests during the Presidency.

I acknowledge and agree with Senator Ahearn's comments on the incredible work the Department is doing. It is under a lot of pressure. I also acknowledge the incredible work Irish diplomats do across the globe and the professionalism they show, day in, day out.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss the incoming Irish Presidency of the EU Council, which will begin in July. We are living in unprecedented times, with turmoil and uncertainty. I understand that consultation is ongoing ahead of the publication of the final schedule of events.

I hope the Government will take the North into account during this term and that the issue of Irish unity is not left off the agenda. Irish unity is coming and it is important we use every opportunity we can to ensure we are prepared and ready for it and welcome and open to it. Irish citizens in the North are EU citizens too and they and their political representatives should play a full role in all of the upcoming engagements throughout the EU Presidency. I understand the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy McEntee, brought a memo to yesterday's Cabinet meeting regarding the attendance of elected representatives from the North. This would be very welcome and I would welcome the Minister of State's thoughts on this later on. The unique situation on our island was brought about by partition, which was not a democratic decision by any means. We will have to navigate that for as long as partition remains. The onus is on the Government to ensure that citizens of the North are represented throughout the EU Presidency.

The global situation in which we inherit the EU Presidency is one of turmoil, conflict and aggression. Disregard for the UN Charter, international law and the multilateral system appears to be the order of the day. The illegal and unprovoked war against Iran, launched by Israel and the United States, is an absolute disgrace and needs to be condemned in the strongest possible way by the European Union. These attacks were orchestrated in the middle of ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran. There was a diplomatic process under way, yet the governments of the United States and Israel abandoned this in favour of war. This is just another example of law and diplomacy becoming irrelevant in the modern day, with guns and missiles coming back into the mainstream and increasing militarisation. This is affecting us all and will affect us even more.

We should also be clear that the motivation for these attacks is to deflect from ongoing investigations of both Trump and Netanyahu in their own countries, although recently somebody said to me that it is not a distraction because neither of them needs a distraction. Trump and Netanyahu have so much power, they do not fear any consequences. They do not feel they have to worry about anything and they can do what they want. Unfortunately, that appears to be the case.

The rapid change of heart by the British Government, which is now assisting the assault on Iran, demonstrates just how difficult it is to make an independent decision once a country is part of a military alliance. There is a stark lesson for the Government in that. We need to take heed of that and urge a return to diplomacy and an end to the war in the Middle East.

The Irish Government needs to condemn these actions and speak out as a neutral, credible voice against unprovoked military aggression. We need a clear head. We do not need to be sucked into war and the apparatus of war. That is a real concern I have. Frankly, it is beyond disappointing that the Government could not condemn these attacks as illegal and that the Taoiseach continues to provide cover for American aggression and refuses to take a stand, as Spain has, against this completely unjustified and dangerous war. It is important to acknowledge the Spanish Prime Minister's clear, strong, brave and principled statements, which, in fairness, contrast with Ireland's jellyfish approach to international law. It is really disappointing. We have to ensure the EU backs the position of Spain. It is a position Ireland should and could have taken the lead in.

Likewise, I do not agree with the recent outrageous statement from the Taoiseach that Ireland is militarily standing with Ukraine. Sinn Féin stands with Ukraine and fully supports all humanitarian efforts and aid, but Ireland is a militarily neutral country and we should be reflecting the contribution to peace and dialogue that we can make, based on our own experience. This should be a focus of our Presidency of the European Council. I am delighted the Ceann Comhairle has decided to adopt the proposal to host an interparliamentary conference on the theme of pursuance of peace in global volatility. We have much experience to share with EU member states on how Ireland achieved an internationally legally binding agreement after 30 years of conflict.

There are many lessons regarding the Good Friday Agreement, from negotiations through to the signing of the document, the associated referendums and its ongoing implementation. It must also be remembered that, in April 2017, the European Council agreed that in the event of a united Ireland, the Six Counties could rejoin the Union as part of a unified Ireland. Irish unity represents the best opportunity for our nation to succeed and thrive. It is not a narrow interpretation of unity with the North simply being glued onto the South; it is a reimagining of how people are treated in the Republic and how we operate on the global stage.

Constitutional change represents a unique opportunity for all citizens of the nation, regardless of background, to come together to build something better. This Presidency should be used to its maximum effect in pushing this forward.

I join with others in commending the ongoing work by various Departments, led by the Department of foreign affairs, on our upcoming Presidency. Before I go onto the main point I wish to speak to, I ask that the Minister of State see this as an opportunity to showcase Ireland's heritage and unique culture - our built heritage, music, art and creative practices. It is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Ireland's heritage across the European Union. It is also important for some benefit to derive from this Presidency to our regional towns and rural communities, where some of the meetings and gatherings could be held. I hope some of them will be held outside of Dublin. We must use the time well to ensure all of Ireland benefits economically, as well as socially, from the Presidency.

I wish to speak to the core point the Minister of State mentioned in his opening statement around a Presidency defined by action. This is an opportunity for Ireland to pull Europe back from the brink of the deregulation and simplification agenda. It is a time for us to reframe the narrative and our commitment to rapid decarbonisation and towards the Paris Agreement. We cannot do this, and call on other member states to do so, while we are abandoning targets here at home and disregarding our own climate Act. It is time for us to make statements on ending all investment into fossil fuel infrastructure. We need an EU migration pact which recognises displacement due to climate change, and one that is humane and compassionate. These are themes and topics we could pursue in our Presidency which would stand out and define us. There also needs to be no watering down of the EU nature restoration regulation, which we are hearing could be on the table. Ireland fought hard to get this over the line in the previous Government, and we need to use the Presidency to ensure it is as effective as it should be. I refer to the UK intelligence report on biodiversity loss. If one of the themes is security, one of the findings that emerged from that intelligence report is that what is about to happen in terms of nature and a collapse in biodiversity is a threat to our very security. Nature is our first and best line of defence against a changing climate.

We also need to ensure the Presidency is used to retain stand-alone environmental funding, particularly LIFE funding. The Minister of State mentioned the competitiveness fund. We do not want to see the LIFE programme subsumed into a competitiveness fund. If it is lost as a stand-alone nature fund, it will be a loss to rural communities and Irish farming, and it is something we should highlight under our Presidency. We need a dedicated nature restoration fund, as was promised when we were negotiating the nature restoration regulation. That needs to be embedded in the post-2027 multi-annual financial framework.

The simple ask is for our Presidency to be marked by leadership on the environment. This could and should be our legacy from our term in office. Ireland, as President, will chair - this is also critically important - both the biodiversity COP 17 in Yerevan in Armenia in October and the climate COP 31 in Türkiye in November on behalf of the European Union. It is a huge undertaking. Both these COPs will be critical in doubling down in opposition to the anti-climate and nature agenda being led by the US and put forward by other countries. We are good at talking; it is what we do well. I have seen in other negotiations that the Irish have always led and led well, and it is something I believe we could do well. Both these COPs must deliver fairness and adequate financing for developing countries and small island states. There is a lot resting on our shoulders here.

Do we have sufficient resources to service our chairing of these events? Will we be able to participate on behalf of the EU at other world conferences, such as the world conference on marine biodiversity, to be held in Belgium? Do the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Service have the resources they need for us to participate and chair on behalf of the European Union? My understanding is that staff are being taken away from their core work to lead on this, which is understandable, It is a huge undertaking and I appreciate the complexities involved but, in order to be fully at the table, fully participate and chair this effectively, we need all the resources at our disposal on this.

Tá ár n-Uachtaránacht ar an Aontas Eorpach an-tábhachtach don dúlra, don aeráid agus do shaoránaigh na hEorpa. Tá sé ríthábhachtach go léiríonn muid ceannaireacht le linn ár dtréimhse san oifig. I urge the Minister of State to keep the theme of climate and the environment central to the co-work programme we are going to lead on. We can leave a very positive legacy here, but it is critical the Government ensures we pull back from the brink of what has been, in recent years, an agenda that is anti-environment and anti-climate action.

I welcome those from CBS High School Clonmel, who are guests of Deputy Michael Murphy. They are very welcome and I hope they enjoy their visit today. As is customary, there will be no homework for the rest of the day.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit chuig an díospóireacht an-tábhachtach seo. This is a very important discussion for Ireland's upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which is coming at a critical point for the European Union. It is an opportunity for Ireland to promote and reaffirm both the founding spirit and the core values of the European Union that its citizens hold dear. I am worried we have lost focus on them in recent years.

The EU came into being following the horrors of the Second World War and following the centuries before that of division within Europe and of colonialism across the world by many European countries. It seemed to be a new point where we were looking at the idea of those core values and principles. It came at the same time as the formation of the United Nations. I welcome the Minister of State's reference in his speech to the importance of the international legal order, with the UN at its centre. Sadly, we are seeing a turn away from international law by some of our colleagues across Europe. There has been a move away from international law and that diplomacy - people have praised Ireland on its record of participating in that diplomacy - towards a "might is right" version of diplomacy, where Europe is standing idly by as war crimes are committed and wars are started from fear of economic impact, opportunism or a sense of powerlessness.

After the illegal strikes on Iran by Israel and the United States, the most recent of many such illegal actions, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated:

International legal assessments will have relatively little effect. This is all the more true if they remain largely without consequence...therefore, now is not the time to lecture our partners and allies.

The last time Israel bombed Iran, we had Ursula von der Leyen reaffirming a commitment to Israel's right to defend itself, even though Israel had initiated the bombing. We had other leaders in Europe talking about Israel doing Europe's dirty work for it. We need to be very clear. There is this line that the UN has failed, which was said by someone here yesterday. The fact of the United Nations and international law being asserted but having no consequence is a choice our colleagues in Europe are actively making.

They are refusing to implement, for example, International Court of Justice rulings that are crystal clear. Germany and some other countries are blocking action that reflects not just international law but also European law, including in the context of the suspension of EU-Israel trade agreement.

We need to make a stand against the flagrant dismissal of the upholding of international law forged after centuries of misery. We have see genocides committed. We need to make a stand in this regard and remind our European colleagues that it is not optional to fail to apply something to one's allies but to apply it to others. This has been noticed internationally. The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft has noted the growing perception that much of Europe has completely abandoned international law. It holds out Ireland, Spain and Norway as countries that still seem to be interested, which is positive. It stated that this will backfire immensely on Europe and will damage us. This is at a time when we correctly want to call for the application of international law in respect of Ukraine. I urge the Minister that this be the centrepiece and that we talk about international law and reroute ourselves towards that historical context. I ask that we not do this within a framework of values and friendly allies and that we speak about it only in the context of Ukraine and park the difficult conversation. I ask that the occupied territories Bill, for example, be made law during our Presidency and that we set the example we should already have set. Spain has jumped ahead of us and has started that ball rolling. We urged other countries to take action, but we did not. What does it say if we contribute to a backslide in relation to international law rather than championing it?

As well as the disregard for international law, we have seen military expenditure being ramped up. Hundreds of billions of euro have been provided in loans to states that wish to spend money on weapons, including cluster bombs. Some €16 billion has been provided in loans to allow countries like Hungary, which is sinking deeper into authoritarianism, to buy weapons. The dangers of this need to be evaluated, in particular when the money involved is being routed away from things like regional development, a just transition, action on the climate crisis, which, we know, is real and is already affecting us and others across the world, and social cohesion, which was crucial to our peace process. I was disappointed that the Minister of State only mentioned peace once, which was in the context of enlargement. In the section on security and defence, there was no reference to the word "peace". I sit on five committees. At least three of them have written to the Minister of State to say that they want peace to be a strong theme of the Presidency. The Oireachtas has chosen that.

Let us have peace reflected during our the Presidency. Ireland has a good story. The contribution the EU made to peace in Ireland was crucial. The European Convention on Human Rights was a foundational legal underpinning of our peace and an example of international law that should be championed and supported.

Ireland should use the opportunity presented by the Presidency to share the learning from the peace process, rooted in international law and underpinned by resources for peace not just for war and military expenditure. There should be a refocusing on the EU and its origin as a project for peace. We should stop a drift towards what is increasingly looking like a soulless economic bloc that cares little for who lives or dies and that sustains a very narrow version of economic growth. That is not what any of us wish for Europe. It is not what the citizens of Europe wish for.

I was incredibly honoured to be part of the future of Europe process and to be involved with 800 citizens and hundreds of parliamentarians from across Europe in that. They spoke to me and each other about how proud they were of the fact that Europe invested in society, raised standards and did the work on the environment and equality. The Minister of State referenced the important provisions on equality and the environment. That is what creates pride in Europe, not just here in Ireland but across the Union. Yet, in the multi-annual financial framework, which will be negotiated during this term, we have seen a worrying slide away from expenditure in these crucial areas towards a focus on very excessive military expenditure. We are also seeing the competitiveness agenda, as it is framed, in a very narrow way. There is space for competitiveness, but some of it is actually deregulation. We seem to have learned from austerity that if we cut back on the social investment, that matters.

I already referred to climate measures. The LIFE fund has been mentioned as being crucial. Social cohesion is important. These are the things that underpin public confidence and pride in the European Union. Regarding the competitiveness agenda, we have heard a lot about digital regulation. We know that the direction the omnibus legislation is going in is towards deregulation. Please let Ireland take a stand on environmental deregulation and, crucially, digital deregulation. There are proposals to dilute data protection rights in order to allow AI algorithms to be trained in respect of personal data. The competitive advantage that Europe has is its standards, rights and respect for the rule of law. Please let us champion those during this period.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as a bheith anseo linn inniu chun na ráitis seo maidir leis an Eoraip a phlé.

It is important that we are having this discussion. We have an opportunity in terms of hosting the Presidency. As previous speakers indicated, this is a time of real geopolitical uncertainty. Cyprus currently holds the Presidency. It continues to do so despite what is going on there. This goes to show how fragile the international situation is at the moment. We have a real opportunity when hosting the Presidency to bring Europe back to the Irish people. While over 80% of Irish people are quite happy with Ireland being a member state of the EU and want it to remain so, the figure in this regard underwent a slight dip in 2025. This is a great chance for us to bring the European Union closer to our people and for them to see how important it is.

War is continuing on all of Europe's borders, global supply chains remain fragile and the international order is under massive strain. We face massive challenges to our democratic institutions, economic resilience and security. In that context, Ireland's leadership will matter not just for us but for the future of Europe. I welcome the themes underpinning the Presidency, namely competitiveness, security and value, and are timely and necessary.

Regarding competitiveness, Europe must remain an innovative outward looking economy, capable of competing in a rapidly changing global marketplace. The Single Market is one of the European Union's greatest achievements, but it must continue to evolve. Investment in research, digital transformation, green technology and skills will be essential if Europe is to maintain economic strength and provide further opportunities for our citizens. For Ireland, competitiveness is closely linked to regional development, innovation in agriculture and food production and ensuring that small and medium-sized enterprises across rural and urban communities can thrive in the European economy.

I also hope we will use this opportunity to progress the savings and investment union package. It has been spoken about frequently internally in the past while. I hope we can progress it. It is important for individual citizens in terms of their savings, but is also important for SMEs in terms of access to finance.

Security has never been more important. We are in a very interesting position in terms of our stance on security. We have to understand that term broadly. It includes the protection of infrastructure, digital systems and democratic institutions. It also includes food security, which has become a central concern in the wake of global disruptions and conflict. European farmers and food producers are essential to our resilience. Ensuring a stable food supply, sustainable agriculture production and strong rural communities is not only an economic necessity, it is also a strategic priority for the EU.

In an increasingly uncertain world, the ability to feed ourselves and support sustainable farming systems is fundamental to European stability. The Presidency will be held by Ireland from July to December. That will give us a real opportunity to further the CAP negotiations.

We have been disappointed to see a decrease in that budget in light of a further budget going to other security measures. However, we have to prioritise our food security and our young farmers and ensure we have enough food going forward. That cannot be overstated.

In relation to values, we have to remember that the European Union started as a peace project. It is a union founded on shared principles, democracy, human dignity and respect for the rule of law. At a time when these principles are challenged, not just within the Union but outside Europe, it is vital that we remain steadfast in defending them. The rule of law is the foundation upon which trust between member states is built. Without it, the functioning of the Single Market, judicial co-operation and democratic governance cannot be sustained. Ireland, with our long tradition of constitutional democracy and respect for international laws, is well placed to champion these values during our Presidency and I hope that we progress them.

As I mentioned, our Presidency will take place against a backdrop of wider geopolitical uncertainty, tensions between global powers to ongoing conflict in eastern Europe and currently the conflict in the Gulf. These developments remind us that European co-operation is not optional; it is essential. We have a proud record of constructive engagement in Europe. During our last Presidency we successfully brokered significant agreements including reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and progress of the European budget framework. We now have the opportunity once again to demonstrate our ability to lead, to build consensus and to advance a European agenda that delivers for citizens. I hope we take this opportunity to do so.

I thank the Minister of State for coming in today. I welcome the opportunity to make a statement on Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. I listened to the Minister of State's opening address and the plans for the EU Presidency. It was heavily focused on defence strategy, assistance for EU states, Ukraine, maritime security and hybrid threats. Of course, all of those things are important. They are typical of what politicians and policymakers want to focus on. However, I am going to focus on what EU citizens want. The original pillars are what the European citizens really want and trade is one of those. With the global economy, European trade has suffered from the effects of bigger trading countries such as India and China. We need to look at that again and be more focused on European industry and trade. Senator Lynch focused on CAP. To European citizens, particularly Irish citizens, CAP and the Common Fisheries Policy are two issues we need to focus on for our citizens. Energy is another issue. Energy costs are huge. In putting sanctions on Russian oil, the European Union and Ireland actually ended up hurting their own citizens and their own industries. Other issues we need to focus on are our freedoms and Irish unity. It will be a missed opportunity if we do not focus a good part of this on peace and Irish unity.

I will focus on health a little bit because it is something other people did not bring up. The Presidency provides Ireland with an opportunity to highlight and provide a platform for a critical health emergency that profoundly affects the lives of EU citizens. The figures on this are quite startling. Many Members would be surprised to learn that throughout Europe, more than one person dies of sepsis every minute. That is a real threat that is happening at the minute to European citizens. It is not a perceived threat. It is the threat that is happening. The upcoming EU Presidency is an opportunity for Ireland to bring awareness to this life-threatening disease. We must promote greater public awareness, strengthen early detection protocols and support better infection prevention strategies across Europe. Early detection of sepsis is key in preventing loss of life. That should be considered in the policy documents.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Mr. Hanniffy is also welcome. I wish all the very best for Ireland's Presidency of the European Union. I do not believe anybody doubts but that we have a very talented and dedicated team working not just for the country's best interest in ensuring that we have a successful Presidency but also doing the best for the European Union at what is an increasingly challenging time.

There is limited time and there are many issues one could reference. From my own personal perspective, as somebody who has always seen myself in the Christian democratic tradition, I see all the good things, as the Minister of State himself mentioned, that our European Union membership brought. He picked probably the best example, namely, equal pay for women and the role of our former President, Dr. Patrick Hillery in his capacity as Commissioner at the time.

At the same time, I always have been one of those who worried and have been concerned about a certain competence creep from the European Union. This of course was prominent in the days when Ireland had pro-life laws and the whole Maastricht protocol for example was about ensuring that European Union laws and the application of them, would not prevent Ireland from going its own way and having a pro-life position in its laws, particularly securing the eighth amendment that we had in our Constitution. I regret that we have lost something in our country around the protection of human dignity without preconditions as to the stage of a person's life. To some degree, that hobbles us in our ability to project a badly-needed message about European values. The EU stands in a world where the international rules-based order has broken down. It is a case of, as Senator Higgins and others have said, might is right. There is much to frighten and concern.

The Minister of State used the phrase "human dignity". That has to be the touchstone and fundamental principle driving all good political values. Ireland is chairing the meeting so we cannot just drive an Irish agenda through the Presidency but there is the quiet influence that goes with being the one to chair. There are issues that I would like to see Ireland always lean in on, which include a respect for national competence, advocating for the freedom of expression and freedom of conscience with regard to European policies and practically speaking, ensuring the EU's agenda does not negatively impact Irish rural communities, that it supports farmers and that we continue to have strong agricultural policies.

In the midst of all of that is, Quo vadis EU? What does the EU stand for? I saw last week, for example, the European Commission's formal response to the my voice, my choice initiative, basically looking for member states effectively to fund and provide access to abortions to people from member states where the rules are more restricted. It was somewhat welcome that the Commission decided not to submit a proposal to the European Parliament or to the Council for a legal Act establishing a funding programme for cross-border abortions. However, it is bad enough nonetheless that the EU said that existing EU funding instruments could be mobilised by member states to support access to abortion for people from other countries. That redirects the European Social Fund plus financial resources from their original purpose, which was to promote social inclusion, to support employment and to prevent families from falling into poverty. That is what genuine support for women involves. The European Union and the Commission, by facilitating, enabling and clarifying that one country can basically fund people to access abortions from other countries, really show that the European Union has lost its way.

Ireland also has lost its way. One problem that emerges from that is that the people who would be and should be most enthusiastic about the European Union and its potential for standing up for human dignity in a world where it is disrespected in far too many places, far too often, lose enthusiasm for the European project as a result. It saps the energy. When people talk about European values, many of us question: what are these values? Are they actually values that are truly in line with human dignity?

There is a lot more that could be said but I would like the Irish Government to take that point on board as well as it goes forward and represents Ireland and Europe and promotes Irish and European values.

I welcome the Minister here this morning and thank him for partaking in these statements. I will not turn it into a back-slapping session but I thank and compliment him because as a colleague, he kept us very much briefed within our grouping on the progress to date and the amount of work that he personally, the Department and other Ministers have all been doing in preparation for our Presidency. It is no small undertaking. I do not think anybody would expect or think it is. When he tells us the amount of work that is happening behind the scenes, it explains in even finer detail how much is involved in this and how big an operation it will be.

The Minister of State will not be surprised in any way if I mention the MFF and CAP. I know we will be in the unique position of where I think the MFF will probably be decided on for the next tranche from 2028 to 2034 during the Presidency. As the previous speaker, Senator Mullen, said, the fact you are chairing the meeting does not mean you can railroad the meeting but you certainly will have an influence. The Minister of State knows my ask by now but it is the ask of more than just me. Within the MFF, could we secure a fully funded CAP that is at least equal to what the current outgoing budget is? The proposal at the moment is for a cut of up to 20%. I know this will be in the CAP negotiations after the MFF but we would like to see the two-Pillar system remain and LEADER and rural development be included.

It is the unknown unknowns, as the old political phrase goes. If we were having these conversations the previous Thursday or we were assuming the Presidency the previous Thursday, our outlook would have been a hell of a lot different on Friday with what has materialised in the Gulf and the Middle East. It is the geopolitical issues and the current geopolitical landscape that will probably determine our Presidency. In the previous 48 or 72 hours, energy - the price and cost of energy, oil and gas - has become the number one topic of conversation. It probably will be a major issue for our Presidency. It will be from July to December and we will be heading into winter. First, there was the change to the system of using Russian gas. Now, we have the issue with the Strait of Hormuz. We do not know what our energy costs or our energy security will be coming into the next winter. I am not just talking about Ireland here but as a Continent and as a Union, that is, the entire EU. That will possibly be one we have to prioritise.

I would like to see an emphasis based on that scenario that we might be able to initiate a review at least if not a revocation of the carbon border adjustment mechanism, CBAM, and in particular, when it comes to fertiliser. The goal posts have moved again. I am putting on my agricultural hat but fertiliser prices will probably rocket now without any CBAM because of the energy crisis and they are a petroleum-based product. In the cases of steel and fertiliser in particular but with many other products also, we are facing a price hike because of the introduction of CBAM. Now, because of the war in the Gulf and the Middle East, the prices of those products will skyrocket anyway because of the scarcity and inability to get them into the Union. We might have to lead out on reviewing CBAM.

In conclusion, I welcome the fact the Minister of State has coupled the countries with each county. I hope that can be utilised to the maximum and we bring all our delegates who will be visiting the island during the Presidency to the rural areas and the counties around the country so that this will not all have a Dublin emphasis. From an agriculture perspective again, we pride ourselves on our food exports and the quality of our food. Hopefully, we can bring the delegates who will be visiting the country for the Presidency to the source and production of those food products so we can let them see what a fine island we are and leave an impression of the quality of the product we are exporting.

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí go léir as cad atá ráite acu anseo sa Seanad. Tá áthas orm go bhfuil daoine dearfach faoin Uachtaránacht agus go bhfuil tuairimí acu ar conas gur féidir linn an Eoraip agus ár dtír féin a chur chun cinn i rith na hUachtaránachta. I thank the Senators for their contributions here today. There is a huge range of issues and forgive me if there were certain aspects mentioned or not mentioned. When you have ten minutes, it is almost impossible to get everything in but I have listened to what people have said.

The European Union is the greatest peace project ever. I say this all of the time. Peace is the very foundation of the European Union. I fundamentally disagree with Senator Higgins who said, if I understood her correctly, the European Union cares little for who lives or dies. That is an extraordinary statement that bears absolutely no relationship to the facts.

Pardon?

The Senator said the European Union cares little for who lives or dies.

I said the danger, if the European Union continues to not speak up in cases of genocide, breaches of international law and war crimes, is that perception. I quoted from institutes of statecraft and others that have stated this is a growing impression of the European Union, having stepped away from international law. It is not my view of the European Union - I have spoken very strongly and warmly of it - but there is the danger, if we do not reaffirm our principles, that perception could arise.

It is the Minister of State's time, without reply.

Apologies. I was asked to clarify.

The reality of the situation is that the European Union is founded on the idea that people care about who lives and dies; people care about who lives. We can look at the foundation of the European Coal and Steel Community. It was literally founded so that the coal and steel industries would be merged so you could not make weapons to fight against each other. That is literally why the European Union was made

One of the people who was responsible for the founding of the European Union, to Senator Mullen's point, was Robert Schuman. He is now on the road to sainthood within the Catholic Church. The idea there is some unchristian agenda within the European Union needs to be totally knocked on the head. That was a process started by Pope Francis.

I certainly do not agree with the idea the European Union is moving away from the Christian democratic tradition and I will mention the thing about the my voice, my choice initiative. The European bishops welcomed the decision of the European Commission about this. Senator Mullen disagrees with it. They raised some of the concerns he raised but they actually welcomed the decision. We need to look at all aspects of this particular issue. The other side welcomed it too. I thought that obviously, some kind of compromise was reached that everybody was happy with, which is extraordinary in that debate. I pay tribute to the European Union that it can get the people advocating that campaign and the Catholic bishops to guardedly welcome it. The Union has done something to bring people together.

On peace and Ukraine, I will be visiting Ukraine for St. Patrick's Day. It will not be for celebration or presenting shamrock to anybody but simply as a symbol of our support for Ukraine, particularly as we go into the Presidency. You can literally drive from here to Ukraine if you wish to and many Ukrainians have done so. Yes, we have given a huge amount of humanitarian aid but if Ukraine does not get the military equipment it needs and that Sinn Féin wants to refuse it, there will be no one left to get humanitarian aid. They will be killed. They will die. The type of military support we are giving is defensive and to prevent them from being killed and dying and to stop missiles hitting apartment blocks or blocks of flats, as I saw personally when I was there. They were not coming into military installations or Government buildings, they were hitting blocks of apartments like those that are all around Senator Andrews's area.

That is what the European Union is paying for - Ireland is not directly paying for it. The European Union is funding this loan to Ukraine to allow them to live.

This is because we care who lives. We care that the people of Ukraine live and survive to receive some of the humanitarian aid that we are giving.

In relation to the agenda ahead of us over the coming months, the Common Agricultural Policy, the long-term budget of the EU, is very important to us. That is on my desk, working with the Ministers for agriculture and finance, and the Taoiseach, who will ultimately conclude negotiations. We are working to make sure it is as strong as possible for us and that the European budget gives value for money for every European. We and the European Union have been focused on protecting food supplies because of that establishment of the European Union post the Second World War. Rural development is also being prioritised. We have seen many good examples of that. Let us be honest: rural Ireland is thriving. Population levels are increasing in most of rural Ireland. I saw statistics the other day that indicate urbanisation in Ireland has decreased, probably because rural Ireland is doing a lot better than many other rural areas.

Senator Noonan spoke about culture. Bhí a lán daoine ag cur fáilte roimh stádas na Gaeilge i rith na hUachtaránachta. Beidh an Ghaeilge á húsáid ag Airí agus ag Státseirbhísigh. Tá córas sa Bhruiséil agus i Lucsamburg ina bhfuil grúpaí oibre, nó meithleacha mar a ghlaoimid orthu, a dhéanann a lán de na hidirbheartaíochta maidir leis na píosaí reachtaíochta atá le cur le chéile san Eoraip. Beidh roinnt de na cruinnithe nó meithleacha sin á reáchtáil trí Ghaeilge don chéad uair riamh. Is céim shuntasach í seo don Ghaeilge agus do stádas agus d’úsáid na Gaeilge. Tá súil agam go spreagann sé daoine le dul amach agus a gcuid Gaeilge a choimeád agus a chur chun cinn ionas gur féidir linn níos mó oibre a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge mar is ceart dúinn a dhéanamh agus sinn ag obair ar son na tíre seo sa Bhruiséil, i Lucsamburg agus anseo in Éirinn i rith na hUachtaránachta freisin.

As Senator Noonan asked about culture, I will speak about the extensive cultural programme for our Presidency. It will show off the best of us and what we are known for. People across the European Union look forward to that.

Many Senators are in contact with local authorities and some of them mentioned the county pairing system. There is a fund there, the communicating Europe initiative, and I encourage local authorities to apply for funding to run events during the Presidency to communicate Europe and the Presidency. Local authorities can apply for that funding, but so too can community groups. These are small grants that could run a small festival, an exhibition or a talk. There are lots of ideas. In previous years, we have not been oversubscribed in respect of that funding. I encourage people to apply for that funding. It is important.

The North of Ireland is an important focus for me as part of the Presidency. Unfortunately, due to a decision of other people, mainly those in England and Wales, Northern Ireland was ripped out of the European Union. We worked really hard - I thank Senator Joe Conway for his remarks in respect of what the Irish Governments did at the time - to make the best of that terrible situation. Last week, I went to Queen's University Belfast to consult about the priorities for our Presidency, to talk to the people there about the Presidency, to listen to their questions and to engage with them about the Presidency. It was important that I did that. I am sure there will be other engagements in advance of the Presidency. We keep the North of Ireland and the citizens who live there in our minds. The fact that the North of Ireland is part of the Single Market for goods is very important. This year, we expect significant progress on EU-UK relations, which will make things easier in the North of Ireland, and here as well, in respect of the import and export of food products in particular. That will have a major beneficial effect. There will also be an effect in the electricity market, which is very important, on an all-Ireland basis. The North of Ireland will be very much a part of our focus. It is unfortunate, although there is nothing I can do about it, that it is not a part of the European Union any more. Those citizens live there. I constantly remind people that while the North of Ireland may not be a part of the European Union, there are hundreds of thousands of European Union citizens living there. They are certainly very much in our minds.

Senator Noonan raised the COP summits. There are two, namely, the climate summit and the biodiversity summit. This again is a major point of pride for Irish Ministers. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, will do the climate summit and I think the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, will do the biodiversity summit, working on the behalf of the European Union. It is a huge responsibility. The relevant Departments have put together big teams to prepare the process at EU level and to prepare for the work at the conferences. For example, at the climate summit in Türkiye, Ireland provides the physical infrastructure for those EU meetings. Our preparation of resources involves a document management system to co-ordinate the large volume of position papers. We get involved in those types of practical matters, as well as being the people on the ground. We will also host the EU's team of negotiators for the UN climate COP here in Ireland in July, as well as a second meeting of expert groups preparing the conference on the environment meeting. Environment ministers will also meet in Ireland in advance to discuss the preparations. Our Ministers go over and meet the teams over there. That will be an important moment for us.

The issue of energy has been raised. It is important. That is the focus not just this week but in general. Work is ongoing at the European level to alleviate the situation that we in Europe find ourselves in, in general terms, and to make us more self-sufficient in relation to our energy so that we are not as prone to suffering the shocks of international geopolitical crises.

I thank the Aire Stáit and his official for coming to the House to discuss this all-important issue.

I ask the Acting Leader when it is proposed to sit again.

Wednesday, 18 March at 1 p.m.

Is that agreed? Agreed.